METRO INTELLIGENCER THREATENED PLANET LAKES LEVELS
8 . 2 5
From the Publisher
David Hohendorf gives some background on what is offered in this issue and calls for readers to submit cover photos for the magazine
Accessing the lakes in Oakland Here’s a look at the state effort to open up the inland lakes to the general public
View from above An aerial view of Oxford Lake, man-made lake in Springfield Township.
The majestic birds on the lakes The Great Blue Heron and the Great White Egret grace the waterways of Oakland County Cover credit: A Great Blue Heron on Eliza Lake captured by Kathy Bramwell.
When my family lived on White Lake I took great comfor t ever y year with the retur n of a Great Blue Heron that basically made the end of our dock it’s roosting spot
It’s retur n each spring spoke to me in a couple of ways First, aside from the installation of our boat hoist and the retur n of our boat out of storage, the Great Blue Heron was kind of the official notice that the new season had ar rived But it also told me that the familiar, solitar y figure at the end of our dock had sur vived another migration ritual
The Great Blue Heron may migrate for winter but retur ns each year to the same spot during what is generally considered a 15-year life span
My interest in Great Blue Herons goes back a number of decades when a rooker y for the herons was first discovered in the Wixom area, which is now par t of the Lyons Oak County Park
At the time I was r unning a publishing group in the west Oakland lakes area and we assigned our photographer to ver y carefully – as to not disturb the rooker y – document the hundreds of Great Blue Herons in nests as they retur ned to the area This was well in advance of digital photography so it was interesting to watch our photographer plan his photos to be taken from a great distance with high-powered long lens and the quietest 35 mm camera we could acquire Members of our publishing group were all environmentally sensitive and this was cer tainly a highlight for us all
Both the Great Blue Heron and the Great White Heron are majestic birds that we can of ten find around the water ways of Oakland County So for this issue, I asked writer Mark H Stowers to take a look at both, which gives all lakefront homeowners an understanding of these magnificent birds which are on a federal protected species list
In this August edition you will also find infor mation on the public access sites available on many of the lakes of Oakland County, researched and written by Michael Scott
There was a time, during the administration of Michigan Gover nor William Milliken, from1969-1983, that the attempts to open lakes to the public with access sites was a major political issue, of ten pitting the lobbyists for spor ting groups and the UAW – members of both favoring more access sites – against those who were living on the lakes of Oakland County
I remember one of the state senators from the Oakland lakes area, af ter just getting elected, dismissed lake access sites as a major issue, only to have to admit months later that when we ran a stor y about a local lake slated as a target for an access site, his office received nearly 100 letters from his constituents opposed to the purchase
The issue was just not one of lakefront homeowners being unwilling to share what are public resources Opposition included those who felt that the decision-making process on land acquisition lacked specific guidelines and new access sites were mostly unmanned boat launching sites
Milliken at one point enacted a temporar y and shor t-ter m moratorium while r ules gover ning access sites were reviewed Eventually the increasing value of land basically priced out the state from acquiring many new access sites in this county, so what you see nowadays is most likely all that you will get in ter ms of lake access
AUGUST FRONT COVER: This month our front cover was from shot by Kathy Bramwell on Davisburg’s Eliza Lake in Springfield Township With the summer active lake season at a half way point, we offer a quick reminder that we are still accepting photo contributions Having lived on three lakes for over 30 years, I know there are many activities that we have yet seen captured in photos Think tubing, sailing, wakeboarding, rowing, and any number of other activities that would make good photos capturing what is par t of living on a lake In retur n we will send a check for $100 if we select a photo High resolution shots are a must Ver tical photos work best Send photos to: lakephotos@downtownpublications com
David Hohendor f Publisher DavidHohendor f@DowntownPublications
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a MeMber of dowNtowN PubliCatioNs
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ACCES S TO L AKES
RECREATIONAL OPPOR TUNITIES THROUGH PUBLIC L AUNCH SITES
B Y MICHAEL SCOT T
Sur rounded by one-fif th of the planet’s fresh sur face water, Michigan is full of boating and freshwater recreation oppor tunities for residents even if they don’t own lakefront proper ty, which is why to help ensure that all residents and visitors can access the five Great Lakes and many of the state’s 11,000plus inland lakes, the Michigan Depar tment of Natural Resources (DNR) manages nearly 1,300 public boat launch and access sites and more than 82 public harbors across the state
The management of those public access points is a major endeavor overseen and managed by the DNR with help from multiple local gover nmental depar tments and law enforcement agencies These public launch sites sit on land owned by the DNR and can var y in size and scope based on the amount of boat traffic at the given lake, said DNR Parks & Recreation Division Chief Ron Olson. The number of those sites has slowly risen over the years, when there is an oppor tunity for the DNR to purchase land that gives residents more access However, many all-spor ts lakes already have public access points.
Many of Oakland County ’s hundreds of lakes have a state access site which allows someone not living on the water way to launch a boat, according to the DNR While lakes generally aren’t private, at least in a legal sense, both lakes that are infor mally considered to be private lakes and public lakes are subject to the state laws gover ning their use. Lakes are of ten refer red to as “private” if they don’t have a public boat launch, and only offer access to private proper ty owners
There is no legal definition of a private versus public lake according to Michigan law, but public inland lakes are infor mally defined as lakes with either a public access site or public proper ties along the shore, said Clifford Bloom, a par tner with Bloom Slugget, PC law fir m in Grand Rapids Bloom is also the general counsel for the Michigan Lakes and Stream Association Lots and parcels with frontage on a public lake extend to the lake’s bottomlands but the water itself and any living fish or life within the lake belong to Michigan residents, he added
“ The cour ts have generally held that the waters of such lakes are owned collectively by Michigan (residents),” Bloom said “But even in without public access, it won’t do most residents any good if they can’t get access from a private landowner ”
The DNR is charged with the statutor y obligation of providing public access to water ways for Michigan residents and visitors The goal is to make the state’s plentiful natural resources available to ever yone
The purpose of these DNR launch sites is to provide public access to water ways for Michigan residents and visitors, which is a statutor y obligation of the DNR, Olson said The goal is to make the state’s plentiful natural resources available to ever yone who wants to use them, especially since the lakes themselves are public proper ty
“People who don’t own proper ty on a lake appreciate the oppor tunity to enjoy it,” Olson said “It can be hard for residents who own (lakefront proper ty) to understand that but that’s the goal We tr y to provide access for any public lake for anyone It is their responsibility to follow the law and treat (lakes) well ”
In fact, the DNR requires that anyone accessing a lake through a public boat launch will follow proper boat safety r ules and regulations Such regulations can include both state laws and local ordinances, some of which may be posted at a launch site All boaters should also be mindful of respecting aquatic life and environmental considerations
Residents who operate a boat in Michigan are required to have a watercraf t registration, attainable through the Michigan Secretar y of State Registration fees for a watercraf t registration are based on the length of the watercraf t They are issued for three years and expire March 31 of the third year Boats that are at least 20 feet in length or that have an inboard motor must also be titled, with the exception of vessels issued U S Coast Guard Cer tificates of Documentation
In addition, anyone who accesses a DNR- owned public boat launch must also have an annual state recreation passpor t, which is of ten purchased with the annual vehicle registration That passpor t comes with a sticker that should be placed on the vehicle that enters the public boat launch The cost of the state
recreation passpor t was $14 for the 2025 calendar year and provides its holder access to any state park
“ There’s a lot to manage with these boat launches,” Olson said “ There’s a significant amount of maintenance that happens ever y year, but we know how impor tant it is for residents The money we get is used responsibly ”
One of the tasks that must be managed is the number of public boat launches itself That number has slowly increased over the years, especially as lakeadjacent land is put up for sale by private owners A small percentage of public boat launches are leased, and when those leases lapse, the DNR has historically shown interest in purchasing the land
Few of the DNR”s launch sites are sold to private buyers or are completely closed Thats why only a few new launch sites have been added in the 20 years that Olson has been working with the DNR The rising cost of proper ty values can also make it hard for the DNR to have the necessar y budget to purchase land at market value A few public launch sites statewide are leased to the DNR by private proper ty owners
“It’s a difficult process these days to buy or sell proper ty for a lunch on behalf of the DNR,” Olson said That difficulty helps to moderate the amount of new activity with buying and selling proper ty To purchase land for a new launch or adjacent to an existing launch, the DNR needs to ensure it accommodates local zoning ordinances Case law in Michigan prevents the depar tment from superseding local zoning r ules, Olson said
“Generally, we won’t buy land unless it is buildable to public access, ” he said “Sometimes (launches) will be located inside a state park which makes it easier There haven’t been many new (public boat launches) added over the years We’re pretty well covered ”
The DNR will occasionally target lakes without a public launch when proper ty is put up for sale It aims to have at least one public launch site for each lake over 300 acres Closing sites generally only happens if the land that was intended to be used as a lunch is prohibited by zoning laws, and/or the DNR can’t use that proper ty for a public purpose
“ We have (proper ty owners) who will contact us from time to time to who want to sell us their land,” Olson said That triggers an DNR evaluation to see if the proper ty will meet its boat launch criteria and would even be appropriate for DNR ownership or leasing “ We have sometimes bought land next to a launch that makes the proper ty larger if we feel there is (growing demand) for lake access there,” he added
DNR staff track public lakes that don’t have active public access sites If potential land is deter mined to meet local zoning ordinances, it is then appraised before a potential offer from the depar tment The DNR
also has the sole authority to approve such acquisitions provided they have the available budget
The DNR benefits from insights and consultative suppor t from the state’s Water ways Commission That commission is a seven-member advisor y board that works with the DNR on the use of dedicated funds, provided by boaters, for the acquisition, development and maintenance of public harbors and boating access sites and cer tain locks and dams in managing its public boat launches This seven-person commission ser ves in an advisor y nature only Michigan’s gover nor appoints its members
The size of public boat launches around the state and Oakland County var y significantly Large boat launches, such as ones on Lake St Clair east of Oakland County, can hold as many as 400 parking spots The DNR also manages public boat launch sites on the Great Lakes, Detroit River, Lake St Clair and other waters that are technically federal owned
Sites on Cass Lake are among the larger inland ones in Oakland County, with numerous boat launch lanes Some launch sites have launch lanes for motorized and non-motorized boats, which can include fishing boats, kayaks and canoes Other boat launches may have just one launch lane and a handful of parking spots The size and scope of the boat launch usually depends on how popular the lake is for boating, along with the amount of land the DNR owns, Olson said
“ We have quite a variety of access oppor tunities,” Olson said “It really depends on the (size) of the lake and the public demand We’ll make adjustments and (improvements) to the site as needed ”
These sites generally will include one parking spot for ever y 25 acres of land on the adjoining body of water, although that is not an exact science, Olson said Parking lots include large spaces for vehicles pulling a trailer and smaller spaces for individual vehicles without a tow
One of the biggest challenges at launch sites on busy days is traffic control, and patience and thick skin are requirements of boaters during active lake days, said Mike Driver, a sales professional with Club Royale, a marine dealership in Water ford rated as a Top 100 Dealer nationally by Boating Industr y magazine The scene can be especially over whelming for new boaters
“Some people can think their boat is the most impor tant one, so there can be a lot of shor t tempers,” Driver said “ You want to be respectful so ever yone can get (their boat) launched ”
The launch sites’ control booths are staffed by DNR professionals during busy times of the summer and heavy boating periods, Olson said, especially on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day and other summer holidays Onsite staff can help manage launches and parking while providing customer ser vice
and launch site maintenance That maintenance includes insuring launch ramp functionality, adjusting skid piers for water levels, mowing the lawn and emptying garbage cans
Ramp damage can be caused by improper loading or unloading when DNR staff aren’t present, and inexperienced boaters can damage the rails if they tr y to do things too quickly, Driver said But boaters who know what they are doing can help keep things moving quickly
“ You want to get your boat off or on the trailer as soon as possible which helps ever yone get in and out,” Driver said “ We tell (customers) to use common sense ”
Many public launches include one or more public bathrooms that also need to be maintained DNR professionals are called upon to help with traffic over flow and control as well Signage around the launch site will provide infor mation to guests about other r ules and regulations
“ We’ll staff them during busy times as much as we can, ” Olson said Many of the onsite employees are seasonal workers hired for the summer months although most of the launch maintenance professionals who inspect ramps and skid piers are full-time employees The DNR manages the proper ties with a de-centralized maintenance approach so that impor tant work is prioritized “ They ’ re responsible for infrastr ucture improvements and making sure that we ’ re making the improvements needed safely,” Olson added
The DNR is limited in par t by budget and other resources, but residents have expressed fr ustration at times with the DNR’s lack of oversight of activity at these sites, Bloom said Some of those fr ustrations are tied to regulations allowing larger boats to be launched at smaller lakes or the number of parking spots available for boaters The ability to regulate boater activities at the site is difficult from a purely staffing perspective given the sites are of ten not staffed even during summer hours
“ They can be difficult to police which is tough,” Bloom said “ The DNR has limitations but there can be fr ustration there ”
All public launch sites guests are required to comply with the state’s Clean, Drain, Dr y program, which sets requirements for boaters to remove all aquatic weeds and plant live from their boats, so invasive species aren’t spread to other areas Boaters are responsible for a full inspection, although DNR professionals at public boat launches can help if they are staffing the site and available
“Recreational boaters and anglers can play a key role in helping prevent the spread of invasive species,” said Kevin Walters, aquatic biologist with the Michigan
Depar tment of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) as par t of a June 30, 2023, press release that outlines the guidelines of the Clean, Drain, Dr y program
“Instead of spreading invasive species, we ’ re asking people to help spread the word about simple steps that can be taken when out recreating on Michigan’s waters,” Walters added in the release
According to the EGLE website, state law requires boaters to:
• Remove all aquatic organisms, including plants, from watercraf t and trailers before launching or transpor ting
• Remove all drain plugs and drain all water from bilges, ballast tanks and live wells before transpor ting a watercraf t
• Dispose of unused bait in the trash, not in the water
Aquatic invasive species can threaten the state’s clean water resources in a variety of ways These invasive species can outcompete valuable native species for food and habitat, cause water quality issues, and be a nuisance to those enjoying our waterbodies, according to the EGLE website
The Clean Boats, Clean Waters is a separate program that includes Michigan State University Extension, the Michigan Depar tment of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program as par tners, which fur ther promotes responsible boating characteristics
“ We always are focused on ways to remind (boaters) how to be mindful of the moving of aquatic life,” Olson said
EGLE also recommends boaters do the following at public access sites:
• Cleaning boats, trailers and equipment by removing plants, debris, and mud
• Dispose of the material in a trash receptacle or other wise away from the water body, if possible
• Washing boats and trailers before leaving or at a nearby car wash or at home
• Dr ying boats and equipment for five days before launching into a different water body
• Disinfecting live wells and bilges with a bleach solution (using one half cup bleach for ever y five gallons of water )
Funding of the DNR’’s public boat launch program largely comes from a por tion of the revenue generated from Michigan’s fuel tax
That state fuel tax was 31 cents per gallon as of Jan 1, 2025 The cur rent gas tax bill was first passed by for mer Michigan Gov Rick Snyder in 2015, which at the time increased the tax from 19 cents to 26 3 cents per gallon That bill a decade ago included language that would allow the fuel tax to be indexed to inflation up to a maximum of five percent annually That explains how the fuel tax has risen by 4 7 cents per gallon since then without requiring approval from the state legislature
The DNR receives two percent of that gas tax revenue to suppor t the care and maintenance of both public boat launches and some of the state’s harbors and other access sites, Olson said
Additional funding for the boat launches comes from the state’s boat registration fees and other infrastr ucture improvement grants
The Michigan legislature approves the DNR’s annual budgets for the boat launches but does not have any oversight authority for the program
Legal oversight of the boat launches is handled by a combination of local law enforcement agencies and the state’s conversation officer
“ We don’t have many issues (with residents), but we have great par tners around the state who help us watch over the launch sites,” Olson said
One of the r ules those law enforcement officials will follow up on are boat launch hours Most public boat launches open at sunrise and close by 10 p m or dusk, but some locations have different hours that are outlined in local ordinances
“ We have some launches that are open for night fishing,” Olson said
Boaters are expected to know the r ules and regulations posted at the DNR’s public access sites
The handbook of Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilities is available for anyone to download online One of the most common r ules is that a person operating a vessel should operate it in a careful and pr udent manner, including at an appropriate speed, while stopping the vessel within an assured clear distance ahead, according to the Michigan Lakes & Streams Association Additionally, there is no wake speed within 100 feet of the shoreline and maximum speed of 55 mph is allowed
Infor mation is readily available about the state’s public launch sites The DNR’s Michigan Boating Facility Finder (MiBFF) website provides infor mation on public access sites throughout Michigan that was updated earlier this year, according to Olson It offers infor mation on more than 1,000 boat launch sites along with an interactive map that provides beneficial user accessibility features The website also includes infor mation on the water depth, launch lanes, number of launch sites, parking and restrooms and additional infor mation to help boaters seamlessly use onsite resources
The MiBFF can be found at Michigan gov/mibff
Site visitors can type in the lake or body of water in the search box they plan to visit to get more infor mation about the public launch details for that water body
Residents can also find public boat launch access sites by finding the Michigan Public Boating Access
Sites webpage on the ArCGIS Online website at glsmidnr opendata arcgis com
Driver of Club Royale agrees with DNR officials that power loading, which refers to when a boater uses the
power of the boat motor to load and unload a boat onto and off a trailer is never recommended, and can cause damage to the public launch life, rails or the user ’ s boat or trailer Driver indicated that it’s an example of boaters who may be moving too fast to launch or load a boat for their own good
“ You want to get your boat in the water but don’t take shor tcuts,” Driver said “Again, it’s about common sense ” He suggests new boaters might practice their launches on days when the public launch sites aren’t as busy “Educate yourself, ask questions and read up before you (launch) on a weekend or holiday ”
Power loading can erode sediment and dig large and dangerous holes at the base of the ramp
Ongoing power loading can push eroded sediment into a single area far ther from shore This action can therefore damage a boat, motor and trailer based on the peaks and valleys in the water caused by power loading Specifically:
• Trailer tires can get stuck in the created holes in the water When this happens, a tow tr uck may be the only option to retrieve the trailer and vehicle attached to it, resulting in unnecessar y time and costs
• The launch ramp can also incur expensive damage, or in a worst-case scenario, collapse, leaving it unusable and causing the access to be closed
• The mounds caused by using the engine during power loading attempts can result in a bar rier for both launching and loading
• When loading or unloading, consider using a winch and maintain a slow, controlled speed, ideally slightly above idle A winch will reel in, let out, or other wise adjust the tension of a rope, wire, or cable This strategy can prevent erosion, reducing the potential issues at the end of a ramp
Damage to a public access site ramp can force the DNR to temporarily close a launch for repairs If the damage is found to be malicious, people using a DNR launch site could be prosecuted based on the state’s malicious destr uction of proper ty statute, Bloom said Funding may not be immediately available for the fix, resulting in a longer-ter m launch close
Other tips for launching a boat at a public launch site include:
• Check the ramp before launching a boat Search for uneven sur faces at the end of the ramp, especially during low water levels Deep holes, caused by engine use from other boars, can trap trailer tires and prematurely ground a boat Boaters may consider using a hand dolly or their trailer winch for a smoother launch
• Float, don't submerge Exper ts recommend backing a trailer in enough so the boat to star ts to float It isn’t necessar y to submerge the entire trailer in water This makes loading and unloading easier and avoids unnecessar y strain on the vehicle pulling the trailer
LAKE ACCESS SITES
FACILITY WATERBODY
Orchard Lake Orchard Lake
Lake Oakland Lake Oakland
Wolverine Lake Wolverine Lake
White Lake White Lake
Lake Orion Lake Orion
Long Lake Long Lake
Loon Lake Loon Lake
Paint Lake Paint Lake
Lakeville Lake Lakeville Lake
Maceday Lake Maceday Lake
Cedar Island Lake Cedar Island Lake
Dodge #4 State Park - Cass Lake Cass Lake
Pontiac Lake Pontiac Lake
Heron Lake Heron Lake
Big Seven Lake Big Seven Lake
Dickinson Lake Dickinson Lake
Union Lake South Union Lake
Proud Lake Campground Proud Lake
Davison Lake Davison Lake
Big Lake Big Lake
Tipsico Lake Tipsico Lake
Alderman Lake Alderman Lake
Lower Pettibone Lake Lower Pettibone Lake
Teeple Lake
Teeple Lake
Proud Lake Proud Lake
Crotched Lake
Crotched Lake
Wildwood-Valley Lakes Valley Lake
East Graham Lake East Graham Lake
Trout Lake Lower Trout Lake
Chamberlain Lake Chamberlain Lake
Deer Lake Deer Lake
Tackles
Crescent Lake
Pontiac Lake
Crescent Lake
Shoe Lake Shoe Lake
Moore Lake Moore Lake
Prince Lake Prince Lake
Huron
Huron River
Union Lake Union Lake
Heart Lake Heart Lake
Little Lake Little Lake
VIEW FROM ABOVE
Oxford Lake
Oxford Lake is a former gravel pit that developers made into a planned subdivision The homeowner association for the 115acre lake does not allow gas motor or power boats but does allow electric pontoon boats and all other non-motorized vessels Oxford Lake is considered very deep
THE BIRDS ARE FEDERALLY PROTECTED AND THEY ARE LINKED TO
Great Blue Herons and Great White Egrets are of ten described as mysterious and majestic – so much so that the National Audubon
Society uses the Great White Egret in flight as its symbol These common wading birds are found in wetland areas from South America to Canada and they're quite prevalent in Michigan and across Oakland County
Several other types of herons, egrets, as well as bitter ns, are found in the Mitten State and are in the Ardeidae order of birds that include the Least Bitter n, American Bitter n, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Snowy Egret, Yellow -crowned Night-Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, Wester n Cattle-Egret and the Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron and the Great Egret are two of the county ’ s most recognizable birds The Great Blue Heron is a tall bird that enhances its appearance with long legs and neck, accentuated by a prominent bill and a distinctive blue-gray color The adults feature a black stripe over their eyes As they migrate from Nor th America south to Central and South America, they thrive and nest in both freshwater and saltwater environments, from marshes to rivers to lakes, but they par ticularly enjoy brackish settings
Francie Cuthber t, a professor at the University of Minnesota who works for the Minnesota Depar tment of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conser vation Biology, notes that the two species are well-known
“ The Great Blue Heron has a long histor y in the state of Michigan They've been here since the 1800s or before,” Cuthber t said “ They're ver y native to the state But the Great Egret is a species that's been moving into the state and moving a little bit fur ther nor th, with the biggest concentrations mainly in the lower peninsula and mainly in the lower half of the state They've been slowly moving nor thwards I've seen some in the Upper Peninsula and they can do ver y well to as long as they've got good feeding conditions ”
With her work she’s been able to keep a close eye on the population as well
“I worked on various contracts with the U S Fish and Wildlife Ser vice to census colonial water birds in the Great Lakes,” Cuthber t said “I've led the last two census effor ts I do know water birds in the Great Lakes The Great Egret and the Great Blue Heron are species of birds that the public recognizes When they see it, they may not know
the exact name, but the public finds them impor tant ”
She explained the visual allure, saying, “ The egret is gorgeous because its feathers are a really intense white It has special plumes during the breeding season and then the great blue is just big and of ten stands where people can look at it It spends a lot of time just standing in the water looking for fish to swim by ”
The birds are federally protected since there are no hunting or trapping seasons, and they are linked to the first Federal Act ever established to protect a species This is all due to 1800s-era fashion
“Egrets were being killed in large numbers for their feathers People were killing them at their colonies in Florida, literally by the thousands And then they were being shipped around the world And they were used to make ver y fancy hats for women The Great Egret was almost exter minated from the U S because of that pressure ”
Once recognized by the public and brought to the attention of the United States Congress, the Lacey Act was enacted and signed into law in 1900 to prevent the sale of protected wildlife, wildlife par ts, fish and plants The act has been amended to include additional protected wildlife and plants and was last updated in 2008 The Migrator y Bird Act of 1918 was also established to protect these species and others This act provides comprehensive protection for migrator y birds, including their nests, eggs and breeding habitats It is illegal to kill, har m, or harass these birds or disturb their nests during the breeding season
In human ter ms, the two birds are “snowbirds” as they migrate from Michigan in the winter to war mer climates in the south, just as many humans do Each retur ns to familiar settings and the same homes, nests and rookeries (a collection of nests high in a clump of trees) year af ter year
“ The male comes back first Retur ning to their colony sites is ver y traditional They prefer to nest in colonies, up in tall trees But I've also seen Great Blue Heron nests on the ground, which is always kind of shocking And it's rare, but they can And they will nest around people They're not necessarily real skittish and solitar y There's some in urban areas, like urban parks ”
She explained the nests are quite substantial and only need minor repairs when the birds make their retur n
“ They tend to go to their for mer nest but they may decide to take another nest And then they'll build up and add more sticks,” she said “ The nest
can be a pretty good size over a number of years as they keep using it ”
She also explained the two species will nest together
“ They are attracted to each other in the sense that they do like to nest in colonies Par t of that has to do with the habitat If the habitat's right and the trees are right And they're going to be nesting near where there's a good food resource They have some protection nesting as a group They can give alar m calls if there's a problem,” Cuthber t said
When it comes to eating, the birds aren’t picky Fish seem to be the foundation of their own food pyramid, with plenty of other species thrown in Pretty much if they can catch it and stab it with their beaks, they swallow whatever it is whole
“ They can eat pretty good-sized fish, and you know most of what they're feeding is not really game fish, but they feed a lot on rough fish in shallow water like carp and suckers They will eat small tur tles and they'll eat snakes,” Cuthber t said “I've seen them eat water snakes, and they'll go into more grassland areas and feed on small mammals There are even repor ts of them feeding on muskrats The Great Blue Heron’s diet is described as ‘ oppor tunistic car nivores ’ They'll pretty much take what comes their way ”
She noted they will also raid other bird nests and feed on eggs and young birds
“Some people would say that's their dark side,” according to Cuthber t
The two species have predators themselves, Cuthber t explains
“ Two predators I know can seriously threaten an egret or a Great Blue Heron colony - one is the Great Hor ned Owl, which sometimes nests within a colony They may place their nest in the center, and when the birds are hatching, they can take the young The other predator is the raccoon I had a student studying blue herons in Minnesota, and people kept repor ting that the birds were deser ting They appeared to be nesting, and ever ything seemed to be fine, and then they'd disappear He put cameras in the nests and lo and behold it was raccoons that were going up the tree and grabbing young and eating them and they were causing this colony to fail ”
Sean Zara, a biologist with Oakland County parks division, can attest to the oppor tunistic diet of herons
“Birds don't chew The herons don't rip apar t their prey, they swallow it whole while it's potentially still alive, or they smash it around until it stops moving But they can swallow surprisingly large animals,” Zara said “I’ve seen photos of herons stabbing and eating small alligators in the south ”
In describing their benefits and detriments to the ecosystem, Cuthber t explained, “No wild native species is tr uly a disadvantage to the ecosystem They're par t of
the ecosystem But there are some things that humans perceive as being negatives Both the Great Egret and the Great Blue Heron nest in colonies, and if that's near someone's proper ty, they can be noisy, and they will, over time, kill the vegetation because they can be so densely packed, and their fecal material has a lot of nitrogen that falls to the ground and can damage vegetation ”
Zara has seen plenty of both species in Oakland County
“ They build their nests in large trees, communally, presumably, because it's safer for predators, they like to be out over the water, not always,” Zara said “ They're large birds, and they generate a lot of poop and so once one of those communal nesting sites star ts going, the ground under neath the tree is completely whitewashed and commonly the trees eventually die from it It's just too acidic They ’ll continue to nest in those dead trees as long as they stay standing ”
Looking at their benefits to the ecosystem, Cuthber t explained that just seeing the two species gives a quick insight into the health of the sur rounding environment
“ They can't exist if the water quality is not good or if the habitat is lost They ’ re like a sentinel If you're seeing Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets in a habitat, it means that they're doing well and the quality of the aquatic system is healthy,” she said
With federal protection and few predators to the adult population, the birds can live nearly three decades
“Both species can live to be typically around 15 years old That's fairly old, and there are some records of both species living to be about 23, 24 years old,” according to Cuthber t
Cuthber t described the Great Blue Heron as the largest in the heron family in Nor th America with a wingspan up to seven feet
The tall and majestic animal doesn’t move much – or so it seems
“ They spend most of their time not doing much or appearing to do much They spend most of their time looking for food or waiting for food to pass near them Because they're a sit-and-wait predator They stalk them They're going to stand there all day and just keep fishing ”
The birds can become a nuisance and a problem for fish hatcheries and commercial fishers with ponds as the birds use them as their personal buffet lines of ten costing fish far mers thousands of dollars in losses –especially in souther n states It is illegal to shoot herons and egrets without a per mit from the USFWS A per mit can be obtained by commercial fish far ms to augment their on-going nonlethal harassment programs
Electronic devices that play bird alar m calls can repel herons and egrets but they may be disr uptive to sur rounding businesses and residents Propane
cannons under roost trees can also be effective
Kylie McElrath, Conser vation Manager, Michigan with the Audubon Great Lakes, was a biologist with Ducks Unlimited prior to this position She detailed her work with Audubon and with the two bird species
“Audubon Great Lakes is a regional office of National Audubon Society,” McElrath said “ We focus on five states of the Great Lakes Basin, but National Audubon Society primarily focuses in the U S We also span a hemispherical approach with work across Nor th America and even down into South America because the birds migrate and they're utilizing habitats outside of just the U S and Nor th America ”
With hundreds of birds in the Great Lakes basin, McElrath estimates the number at 450 species In looking at egrets, herons, and bitter ns, she explained, “ We can find about 12 species of herons, egrets and also bitter ns Egrets and herons are in the family Ardeidae, which includes herons, egrets and then allies that are known as bitter ns And they're essentially herons, but they're more secretive So, they're what we refer to as secretive marsh birds, but they're in that same family ”
Even though the bird populations are listed as “not of concer n, ” the loss of habitat from Canada to South America does put pressure on them
“Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets are pretty commonly found and pretty widespread, but species such as the Least Bitter n and the American Bitter n are species that we do have some more conser vation focus on because they are much more dependent and reliant on these high-quality wetland habitats,” McElrath said “Bitter ns are facing the threat of habitat loss We're losing our wetlands at a pretty significant rate And that is, in tur n, threatening those bird species ”
Those habitats are under threat due to urban sprawl, pollution and nutrient overload in those ecosystems In looking at the species, McElrath explained the birds are separated in different ways
“Egrets are actually more of our white heron species, and herons are those in that family that have the darker plumages, so they're really kind of named more based on plumage and a little bit from size,” she said “Egrets are typically a little bit smaller in size than our herons but our Green Heron is actually one of the smallest of the family Behavior-wise, they're pretty similar, so they will nest in colonies, of ten refer red to as rookeries or heronries, and so they'll build platfor m nests in shr ubs or trees over trees in water or near water bodies You can of ten find many or a few of these species in a same rooker y They ’ll be in groups, but species like the green heron and the bitter ns are solitar y nesters So, they actually will not nest in these colony for mations Green Herons will be of ten solitar y in trees near water or dense shr ubs ”
When nesting, the incubation period ranges from 23-
28 days for larger species and 17-21 days for smaller species with anywhere from two to seven eggs being layed Those hatchlings will usually fledge anywhere from four to seven weeks
“Mid-May is when we're going to star t seeing them come back and then we'll star t seeing them leave in the late summer or early fall, so August, September time frame,” she said
A sign of an early spring are herons and egrets retur ning to Michigan in March and even Febr uar y The mating habits include “not typically mating for life, but they're what we refer to as seasonal monogamous, so they will remain with the same mate for a par ticular breeding season, but then the next breeding season, they'll likely be finding a new mate, but they will stick around with that mate for the par ticular breeding season, and they will help with care of the young You can find them breeding in the whole span of the easter n U S , Florida up to Michigan What we have breeding in Michigan are going to be our Great Blue Herons, our Great Egrets, our Green Herons, our Blackcrowned Night Herons, and then our Bitter ns ”
When looking at their diet and eating style, McElrath said, “ They'll stab something and make it stop You'll see them kind of toss a fish up and swallow it whole And fish is their primar y food source, which is why they have those long dagger-like bills to help either stab or catch those fish They're what we refer to as car nivorous wading birds, so mostly feeding on fish, but they will also feed on other ver tebrates or even large inver tebrates that are found in these water bodies or wetlands Frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, aquatic insects and lar vae, even cr ustaceans like shrimp or crayfish Some of our larger species, like our Great Blue Herons, might even be feeding on small mammals if they're available in the areas, or even on occasion, reptiles, small birds, or snails They have a pretty wide range of diet ”
In her field work in restoring habitats, McElrath noted ar tificial str uctures for herons, egrets and other birds will be added to “help create a diversity of str uctural habitat Most of the work we're doing is conser vation, restoration, enhancement, and protection of coastal wetlands around the Great Lakes Basin And so that sometimes might look like a larger restoration project where we're restoring a wetland or we're doing an enhancement project where there's an existing wetland that just needs some modifications to enhance the quality of it And in all of the conser vation work that we do within wetlands, we're really focused on breeding marsh birds, but we're also focused on creating a diverse habitat within these wetland ecosystems so that it's benefiting a large suite of birds ”
Some of the wetland work includes adding coarse woody debris that can help some species nest A gradient of habitat is created so that there's that marsh
habitat but also a gradient up into shore, into the wet meadows, and potentially even shr ubby vegetation, which can help breeding herons and egrets
“ We do focus on as much diversity and if it seems fit for a par ticular project, we might do an island in the wetland, and that could offer oppor tunities for egrets and herons,” she said
Private landowners can also work to protect and enhance habitat for the bird species
“Depending on the size of proper ty the most impor tant thing is stewardship,” McElrath said “For lake owners and folks to be general stewards of the water bodies and suppor t the health and the quality of the lake that you're living on, or other water bodies that suppor t the Great Lakes And advocate for policies that can help suppor t these ecosystems as well That's where you're likely to make the biggest impact is just being a steward of the lake and to help advocate for policies that can help protect our wetland ecosystems but also keep our lakes clean ”
Scott Tiegs, a professor in the Depar tment of Biological Sciences at Oakland University and the principal investigator of the Aquatic Ecology Lab For the past 15 years, has led a tropical field ecology course that has involved over 200 students in countries such as Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Ecuador His research focuses on the human impacts on aquatic ecosystems, especially invasive exotic species and the effects of human activities on carbon cycling through changes in organic matter decomposition
"As wading birds, egrets and herons require shallowwater habitats like shorelines and lake margins, but these areas are all-too - of ten impacted by development,” Tiegs said “People love to live close to the water of course, but we can minimize our impacts by refraining from using shoreline protection str uctures such as riprap, seawalls, etc "
Nancy Seefelt, an ecologist, evolutionar y biologist and professor and alumnus of Central Michigan University and has been teaching since 1997 She ear ned her Ph D at Michigan State in 2005
“I teach courses in or nithology and avian ecology and have more experience with the egret and heron’s little cousin, the Black Crowned Night Heron I work primarily with the colonies that are on the Great Lakes themselves and when we take a look at the Great Lakes, the Great Egret numbers have been increasing over time but they star ted ver y, ver y small, so that's not that surprising ”
She noted both Great Blue Herons and Black Crowned Night Herons have been declining in ter ms of their breeding population but not due to any one main problem
“ There's lots of habitat changes There's changes in the food webs There's not a smoking gun Climate change is thought to be a big issue as well Lake levels
are changing, so no one really has a one-word answer or even a two -word answer as to why there are lower numbers,” Seefelt explained
The Black Crowned Night Heron is much smaller In fact, there was a colony nesting at the Detroit Zoo near one of the concession stands for a while However, they're a wild colony that moved into the zoo due to the abundance of free food They will eat just about anything, so they steal food from the different enclosures,” Seefelt said “ Their nests are smaller, but they nest in trees or shr ubs and in colonies, just like Great Blue Herons do They tend to be a bit more secretive They're a really interesting species because, even though they're not ver y common here in Michigan or are declining in numbers, they're considered a species of special concer n They can actually be found all over the world, except Antarctica ”
Jen Owen, associate professor at Michigan State University in the Depar tment of Fisheries and Wildlife, studies bird migration, bird diseases and r uns the Michigan State Bird Obser vator y in Bath Township She also leads the Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center, where more than 6,000 birds, including 87 species, are banded each year to track them and gather data
“I've been working with birds since I got out of school, undergrad, which was about 30 years ago, ” Owen said “Herons and Egrets are so unique in the way they fly, and they're sor t of that characteristic or sentinel Great Blue Herons, I feel like you see pretty much ever ywhere It's not like there's cer tain areas that maybe have higher concentrations than others, but with Great Egrets, you typically are going to see a lot down near Detroit And then also Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge up by Saginaw You can definitely see them at Corey Marsh In the fall, we get large flocks of Great Egrets, which is amazing It's beautiful ”
She noted that both species “love wetlands with shallow water because it's easy to get prey And they love crawfish We've been tr ying to see how many we're getting, because we're getting more egrets and herons than we ever have in the summer ”
Even with so many birds being banded, “ There's not a lot of banding on wading birds I know there are folks that are doing that down in Florida They use what's called rocket nets We do this sometimes with water fowl, too, or with shore birds It's a net that literally shoots up and over them because it's less har mful to the bird Whereas cer tain birds like cor morants, when they're on the ground, we use leghold traps There are all different ways to catch birds depending on the bird itself We use mist nets, like netting, for songbirds ”
The Great Blue Heron and The Great Egret, two majestic and mysterious birds that call Michigan home
T H R E AT E N E D P L A N E T
Threatened Planet is a newsletter of curated information gleaned from over 30 print and online news sources where reliable information is provided on the health of the environment and the efforts to remedy problems facing the planet We constantly monitor a diverse list of sources – the major daily newspapers in the country and in Europe, a variety of scientific journals and government websites, along with newsletters from environmental groups, as well as a wide-ranging list of other reliable print and online news outlets For those concerned about the environment, we do the legwork by aggregating relevant information from a wide swath of sources and attempt to offer links mostly to those sources not restricted by a paywall Those interested can sign up for the newsletter at ThreatenedPlanet com
Research and composition of the Threatened Planet newsletter is the work of Austen Hohendorf
two million electric vehicles on the road (Janelle D James/Bridge MI)
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The countr y of Malaysia effectively banned all shipments of plastic waste from the United States (Hiroko Tabuchi, Zunaira Saieed/The New York Times)
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Deep ocean acidity has crossed a vital threshold threatening its ability to provide the sur face with food and oxygen (Saul Elbein/The Hill)
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The Mediter ranean Sea is experiencing a recordsmashing heat wave as water temperatures surge above 85 degrees (Ben Noll, Chico Harlan/The Washington Post)
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New research finds microplastics and nano -plastics shed by packaging are contaminating our food and drinks (Sandee LaMotte/CNN)
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The state of Michigan is urging federal cour ts to dismiss the DOJ lawsuit aimed at blocking potential climate action against the fossil fuel industr y (Lesley Clark/E&E News)
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The gover nor of New York announced plans to build the new “zero -emission” nuclear power plant, the first in decades (Patrick McGeehan, Brad Plumer/The New York Times)
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A new study suggests policies banning plastic bags are associated with up to a 45 percent decrease in plastic bag litter found in shoreline cleanups (Madeline Holcombe/CNN)
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A manufacturer sued to stop a webinar on the health risks of ar tificial tur f across playgrounds and spor ts fields (Hiroko Tabuchi, Ken Belson /The New York Times) ▾
A new study finds a majority of people around the world suppor t a carbon tax, even if it means they pay for it (Sophie Hur witz/Grist)
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The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assessment finds flooding is New York City ’s most pressing public health threat as rising sea levels and intensif ying stor ms threaten the coastlines (Eliza Fawcett/The City)
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Lawmakers in France approved a bill that applies penalties on ultra-fast fashion products to help offset their environmental impact (Reuters)
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New data from the Michigan Secretar y of State finds EV adoption has quadr upled over the past three years but still remains behind Gover nor Whitmer ’ s goal of putting
The Tr ump administration shutdown of a federal website that presented congressionally-mandated and taxpayer funded climate change repor ts will hinder the nation’s effor ts to prepare for worsening weather events, scientists say (Ian James, Noah Hagger ty/The LA Times)
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Ireland has become the sixth European countr y to end its use of coal as it’s scheduled to close its last coal plant earlier than planned (Cristen Hemingway Jaynes/EcoWatch)
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The Wisconsin Supreme cour t r uled state regulators can force landowners to clean up emerging pollutants, such as PFAS, before they ’ re officially designated as hazardous substances (Scott Bauer, Todd Richmond/The Associated Press)
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The Environmental Protection Agency placed nearly 139 employees on leave af ter they signed a letter of dissent criticizing the Tr ump administration’s environmental policies and direction (Mar y Cunningham/CBS News)
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According to a newly released study, the United Status is responsible for 55 percent of private jet emitted pollution globally, the largest share of planet war ming pollution (Anusha Mathur/The Washington Post)
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The U S Energy Depar tment hired at least three scientists well-known for their doubt of climate change despite over whelming scientific consensus (Maxine Joselow/The New York Times)
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Scientists in Hawaii are releasing live mosquitoes via drones to combat malaria in the declining bird population (Benji Jones/VOX)
Metro Intelligencer is a monthly column devoted to news stories, tidbits and gossip items about what's happening on the restaurant scene in the metro Detroit area Metro Intelligencer is reported/ created each month by Gigi Nichols who can be reached at GigiNichols@DowntownPublications com with news items or tips, on or off the record.
Big Rock Italian Chophouse set to open July 15
In 2023, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) announced that they would be adding Big Rock Italian Chophouse as a new concept to its family of restaurants
Located in Bir mingham’s for mer Grand Tr unk Wester n Railroad Depot, the for mer Big Rock Chophouse has undergone a two -year renovation, now housing two distinct yet complementar y experiences: Big Rock Italian Chophouse features 7,718 square feet of restaurant space, while The Rock Cigar Club occupies 2,357 square feet of refined, luxur y lounge space including the addition of the Annex, a newly built second floor space The menu will offer signature dishes featuring USDA prime steaks and chops, fresh seafood and chef curated pastas In preparation for its July 15 opening, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants has announced the leadership team for Big Rock Italian Chophouse and The Rock Cigar Club: Steve Her miz as general manager, Chris Mayer as executive chef and Sue Simich as sales and concierge manager
According to Cameron Mitchell, founder and CEO of CMR, each member of the leadership team has deep roots within CMR and brings decades of hospitality experience, ensuring the renovated and re-imaged destination is guided by industr y veterans who exemplif y the company ’ s people-first philosophy “Our culture is to put people first, both our associates and guests Sue, Chris and Steve all absolutely represent this philosophy of creating a tr uly extraordinar y experience for our guests at ever y level,” said Mitchell 245 S. Eton Street, Bir mingham cameronmitchell com
Rolling in new flavors
Aji Sushi has opened its doors at Midtown Square in Troy, taking over the space for merly occupied by Panera Bread
The restaurant is owned by Jian Lin and managed by his nephew, Benson Lin The newly renovated interior draws inspiration from traditional Japanese homes, featuring a clean, minimalist design accented with light natural wood and Japanese prints The restaurant offers seating for approximately 80 guests, with an additional 12 seats available on the outdoor patio Aji Sushi’s menu features a diverse selection of Japanese cuisine, including classic sushi rolls, sizzling teriyaki dishes, and inventive fusion creations Two of the popular signature rolls include: King of the Ocean featuring lobster tempura, shrimp tempura, spicy snow crab, avocado, soy paper, wrapped with crab sticks, boiled shrimp, eel sauce and tempura bits; and the Aji Roll with tuna, salmon and yellowtail, topped with various colors of caviar The owners are cur rently awaiting their liquor license, and hope to begin offering sake, wine and beer within the next six months One of their standout
offerings is the “all-you-can-eat” experience distinctly not a buffet Guests order directly from the menu, ensuring freshly prepared dishes while helping to reduce food waste “It’s been a huge hit with our customers,” said Benson Lin 1325 Coolidge Highway, Troy ajisushimi com
A perfect duo
Tony Camaj and Marash Lucaj have been friends for 30plus years, and just last year they hatched a plan to open a restaurant Their par tnership couldn’t be more complementar y Camaj’s background is in constr uction while Lucaj’s experience is in the restaurant industr y They looked at several locations in different cities and were immediately drawn to a location in Bir mingham’s Adams Square Shopping Center at Adams and Bowers Street They named their new venture House of Bir mingham In addition to overseeing the constr uction, Camaj also handled the interior design of the space The inviting interior features a mix of cozy booths and sleek banquettes that can seat up to 85 guests Wood accents on the ceiling and walls provide depth and war mth and are complemented by contemporar y lighting fixtures The menu, developed by Lucaj, features a wide variety of breakfast fare from healthy bowls and egg dishes to sweeter options like French toast, pancakes, waffles and crepes The skillet dishes, craf ted with homemade seasoned potatoes, eggs offered along with meats or veggies, have emerged as crowd favorites The lunch side of the menu offers wraps, burgers, salads, and classic sandwiches such as the Califor nia BLT and the tuna melt with Swiss cheese on grilled r ye The restaurant is open seven days a week from 8 a m to 3 p m 653 S Adams Road, Bir mingham order spoton com
Ferndale welcomes Nine Kitchen + Bar
Nine Kitchen + Bar has opened on Woodward Avenue in Fer ndale, just nor th of Nine Mile Road hence the name Housed in the for mer Brooks Brewer y location, the space has undergone a complete transfor mation At the hear t of the restaurant is a striking 20-seat bar, the focal point of an interior that blends industr y and glam Cor r ugated steel ceiling panels, exposed ductwork, and ter razzo flooring provide a raw, moder n backdrop, which is sof tened by plush velour banquettes, elegant lighting, and vintage black-and-white Hollywood photos The venture is led by co - owners Damian Dabish and Marlon Gaggo, with Ryan Thweni ser ving as general manager and Sloan Year r y overseeing the bar program Thweni describes the concept as “ a new American bistro and upbeat cocktail lounge with good vibes only ” The menu is built around elevated comfor t food and shareable plates, including favorites like bang bang shrimp, tuna tar tare, and lamb meatballs Signature entrées include caramelized onion chicken ser ved with cacio e pepe mashed potatoes, asparagus and rosemar y car rots; and whitefish cr usted with pistachiosage breadcr umbs, finished with par mesan, beur re blanc,
and seasonal vegetables Nine Kitchen + Bar is open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner The happy hour, which has already proved to be quite popular, r uns Tuesday-Friday 4-6 p m House wines are $6, draf t beers are $2 off and craf t cocktails are offered at $10 22925 Woodward Avene, Fer ndale ninekitchenbar com
One door closes, another one opens
The latest chapter of “ one door closes and another one opens ” features Café Succa and Kemosabe in Bir mingham Café Succa ser ved acai bowls, smoothies, sandwiches and coffees and was owned by Anthony Toma who took to social media in a live broadcast to voice no regrets about closing the operation “Café Succa is officially closed,” said Toma “ Thanks to ever yone who came out and suppor ted Glad to be rid of it, I guess Not so much rid of it, but glad I don’t have to be responsible for staffing and being here doing the retail thing Brick and mor tar is not my thing anymore I’m the kind of guy that likes to be free and not buckled down to a physical location ” Toma then suggested that his customers suppor t other similar dining options such in Bir mingham such as Beyond Juice and Fr uition Café Succa was located at 600 N Old Woodward Avenue, enjoyed a primo location at the nor th end of the city with a patio overlooking the Far mer ’ s Market A new and completely different restaurant-concept, Kemosabe, is set to take over the space Kemosabe is owned by Rober t Esshaki and will be a French bistro style restaurant The cur rent design includes seating for 54 inside and 16 seats outside, with plans to constr uct a roof top dining area The restaurant has been granted per mission by the Bir mingham City Commission to seek a bistro license
2025 Culinary Collective with Jacques Pépin
In July, Michelin-star red chef and owner of Oak & Reel in Detroit, Jared Gadbaw, will kick- off his annual Culinar y Collective dinner series with a multi-course event celebrating an icon in the culinar y world Jacques Pépin Gadbaw will join 90 chefs across the countr y in honoring the legend with the “90 Chefs for 90 Years” series This special Culinar y Collective dinner will take place on July 17, and is par t of a nationwide celebration recognizing Chef Pépin’s 90th bir thday and his enduring commitment to culinar y education Joining Gadbaw for the one-night- only dinner is owner and chef Danny Combs of the acclaimed Cincinnati restaurant Colette, who is known for his refined yet imaginative take on French cuisine Also joining them is Chef Dan Williams, Corporate Chef for Daniel Boulud The chefs will collaborate on a menu that blends both timeless French techniques with their unique styles Proceeds from the dinner will suppor t the Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) and its mission to empower communities through culinar y education The Culinar y Collective dinner will also launch Oak & Reel’s month-long French menu takeover that r uns through mid-August Throughout the month Chef Gadbaw and his team will offer an exclusively French menu, designed to transpor t guests to France and take them on a culinar y tour of its most iconic regions from the butter y richness of Nor mandy to the bold flavors of Provence Tickets for the July 17 dinner are $235 Seating is limited oakandreel.com/culinar y-collective
Lakefront homeowners in Oakland County are a special set and now they have their own special niche publication.
LAKE MAGAZINE
Upscale, full- color, direct mailed to over 17,000 homes on the shores of Oakland County ’s waterways. Produced by a seasoned group of award-winnng professionals directing their talents to the issues surrounding the concerns of living on the waterfronts.
Ride on our coattails into the homes of this important, affluential segment of the buying public before the start of each month.
Contact Pat Collins at 586.215.1400 or
to discuss how to include your message.
September issue reservation deadline is Friday, August 1. Issue mailed August 18.
A) Oxford Multi includes: Cedar, Clear, Long, Squaw, Michelson & Tan Lakes
B) Waterford Multi includes: Cemetery(Middle), Dollar, Greens, Maceday, Lotus, Lester, Van Norman, Williams, Mohawk, Wormer, Schoolhouse, Silver, Upper Silver & Loon Lakes
C) The Loon Lake control structure also controls Mohawk, Wormer, Schoolhouse Silver & Upper Silver Lakes
D) The Van Norman control structure also controls Green, Maceday, Lotus & Lester Lakes
E) Lake Angelus, Huron River, and Clinton River levels are not under the jurisdiction of this office
F) The Dawson Mill Pond and Sylvan-Otter Lakes are controlled by the Price Dam
G) Crystal Lake is controlled by the Walter Moore Dam
H) Lake Louise and Huff Lake are controlled by the Ruth Johnson Dam
I) Waumegah Lake reading in N.G.V.D (1983)
J) Some Winter Levels are set by Court Order Others reflects customary drawdown
